What is Drug Addiction Treatment?

The issue of drug addiction is one that is often met with contempt or judgement by those not affected. Those with no experience of it find it hard to comprehend why some people would use substances that are having such a negative impact on their life. They believe that drug addicts have a choice about their use of mood-altering substances. They also assume that every drug addict abuses illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin, when this is not the case at all. In fact, there are countless people across the UK who struggle to cope because of a physical dependence on prescription drugs. Regardless of the substance being abused though, those who are addicted to drugs need help. But what is drug addiction treatment and how do you find it?

How to Access Drug Addiction Treatment

Those who need help for a drug addiction often fail to access it because they do not know where to look. Some will try to find what they are looking for by doing a search online, but with so much information to sift through, many will give up in frustration. Some have no clue what they should be looking for in a provider and do not even know what their own level of substance misuse is. Others do not know what type of treatments are even available, particularly those who have found themselves with a dependence on prescription medication.

Many individuals find themselves wondering ‘what is drug addiction treatment like?’ and their fear of the unknown can make them hesitant to take any further action. But you should not fear treatment for an addiction; in fact, you should embrace it because with it, you can get your life back on track.

When asking the question of ‘what is drug addiction treatment like?’, you can get the information you need by calling Middlegate. Not only can we provide you with information about what to expect from drug addiction treatment, we can also help you to access a programme that will work for you and your needs.

We know which organisations operate in a specific area of the UK and we know which addictions these facilities specialise in. We have gathered all this into a database and can access the information required in minutes. If you are interested in getting started on a programme of recovery, please call us today.

What is Drug Addiction Treatment Like?

Drug addiction treatment is not the same for everyone. It used to be the case that every addict was treated in the same way but these days, bespoke treatment plans are the norm. These plans are created around the specific requirements of the individual patient and consist of various therapies that are expected to be the most effective when it comes to overcoming addiction for good.

Before rehabilitation begins though, detox is usually necessary. Where a physical dependence exists, a detox will be required to break the cycle of abuse and addiction. It is worth remembering that for most people, addiction is made up of a physical and a psychological element. Each element must be treated, but this will be done separately.

Physical addictions are addressed with a detox while the psychological aspect of the addiction is treated with rehabilitation. You will need both to have a successful recovery.

What Drug Detox is Like

The process of overcoming a drug addiction begins when you quit the substance to which you are addicted. As soon as your body realises that the usual supply of drugs is not arriving, it will react by trying to expel any chemicals or toxins that remain in your system. It does this as it tries to get back to normal, but this process can result in various withdrawal symptoms occurring.

It is these withdrawal symptoms that can make a drug detox so unpleasant. However, in a supervised facility, medications and nutritional supplements are available to ease any discomfort felt. It is impossible to tell you exactly what your drug detox will be like because there is no way to know for sure what type of symptoms you will experience or how severe these will be.

The way in which your detox progresses will be influenced by the type of substance that you have been abusing, how long you have been addicted for, and whether you have any underlying health issues.

We would advise you to consider a dedicated detox facility because that is the safest place to complete the process. There is a risk of severe withdrawal symptoms when detoxing from any mood-altering chemicals, but with medical staff in attendance, the risk of complications will be dramatically reduced.

What to Expect from Drug Rehabilitation

Drug rehabilitation takes place on the completion of a drug detox and is typically carried out in a residential or day care facility. Programmes are provided by organisations such as the NHS, private clinics, local support groups, and charities.

The type of rehab programme that you choose will be determined by the severity of your addiction in the first instance, but also by personal circumstances. So, while those with a severe drug addiction might require a residential programme, this type of care would not suit someone who is unable to be away from home for an extended period.

Before you choose a programme of rehabilitation, you might want to find out a little more about what to expect. If you have been wondering ‘what is drug addiction treatment like?’, the following will give you some idea of what each type of programme would entail.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehabilitation programmes are based on the residential model of care. Patients are removed from daily life and placed in an environment that is tranquil, therapeutic, and, most importantly, distraction-free.

For the most part, these programmes are provided by private clinics, so the accommodation will be decorated to a high standard. You are likely to have a private or semi-private room and there will be shared spaces where you can interact with other patients.

Most people will stay in the clinic for between six and eight weeks. However, if your needs are more complex, you might require a stay of up to twelve weeks. This might be the case if you have an addiction to more than one substance or if you have an addiction coupled with mental health problems.

Outpatient Rehab Programmes

Outpatient rehab programmes differ in that they are less intensive. Treatments are carried out on a daily or weekly basis, but patients do not stay in the clinic, meaning they have far fewer treatment hours each week than those in inpatient programmes. As such, outpatient programmes tend to run for much longer, with some continuing for many months and others running for longer than a year.

Those who choose to recover with an outpatient programme will have plenty of choice in terms of provider as these programmes are offered by local counsellors, charities, private clinics, and the NHS.

What Are Bespoke Treatment Plans

As mentioned above, most rehab providers use bespoke treatment plans these days because these have proven to be effective in helping patients to successfully overcome their addictions. Bespoke treatment plans tend to consist of a combination of traditional therapies and holistic treatments. One of the biggest advantages of such plans is the fact that they are so flexible. They can be easily adapted should any element of the programme not be working as expected. Counsellors and therapists can simply change one element for another without disrupting the patient’s overall treatment progress.

Below are some of the treatments that tend to be included in a bespoke treatment plan:

Individual counselling

Group therapy

Family therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Dialectic behavioural therapy

12-step work

Contingency management

Motivational interviewing

Life and skills workshops

Relapse prevention

Sports and nutrition

Yoga

Art therapy

Massage

Music therapy

Meditation

Mindfulness

Equine therapy.

The use of holistic treatments is not effective by themselves when overcoming addiction, but when used with traditional counselling and therapy, these treatments can help to heal the person as a whole and not just the illness, giving a much greater chance for long-term success.

We hope the above has answered the question of ‘what is drug addiction treatment like?’ for you. It is impossible to tell you exactly what your treatment programme is going to be like without knowing who the provider will be and which type of programme you are choosing.

Nevertheless, by contacting us for advice and information as well as a free and confidential assessment of your situation, we will be able to recommend treatment providers in your area where you can get started on your recovery journey. We can discuss all your options with you and provide answers to any queries you may have regarding what drug addiction treatment is like. We can also answer questions about the cost of treatment and locations of clinics.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today to find out more about what we do and how we can help you to get your life back on track.